Drivers' travel information styles and adaptation behaviors to dynamic travel information about accidents on expressways

Abstract

In the event of traffic accidents on expressways, drivers may alter their travel choices differently based on their travel information styles, which have been under-researched. Using data collected from 1,923 drivers in Japan in 2011-2012, this study first defines the styles based on drivers' preferences for and experiences of travel information usage and then derives three unique styles: high dependence on information for relatively inflexible trip making (Style 1), high dependence on experience for risky trips (Style 2), and least-information users (Style 3). Furthermore, a nested logit-based driver adaptation choice model is estimated and the results indicate that drivers using Style 1 are more likely to change their original plan because of the information about substitute routes and travel modes than the other two types of drivers. The differences in influential information contents and their provision methods across the three types of drivers are shown in different driving scenarios. Language: en